Greek food – is there anything better? That’s for you to decide, but for me the Greek kitchen is the ultimate symbol of pleasure and instant holiday vibes. Greekish by Georgina Hayden helps you tap straight into that feeling – from your own home kitchen.
What kind of cookbook is Greekish?
Greekish is not a classic Greek cookbook that dutifully ticks off all the well-known favourites. Its motto is “everyday recipes with Greek roots.” That means some dishes are true classics, such as Pastisada or Bifteki. Others are built around a specific Greek ingredient – think halloumi, aubergine, oregano, feta, or pistachio. Examples include Feta, cherry and white chocolate cookies or Metaxa and raisin ice cream. And then there are recipes that give a modern twist to traditional Greek techniques, such as Chicken gyros.
What kind of recipes will you find in Greekish?
The book offers a varied selection: small plates and snacks, main dishes, salads and sides, and desserts. The level of difficulty varies quite a bit. Many recipes genuinely fall into the “everyday” category, like Village pasta with chicken and lemon or Mussels in saffron yoghurt. At the same time, there are plenty of dishes that require more time – especially the meat recipes in the Feasts chapter. Think Youvetsi meat and orzo stew or Pastisada spiced beef with pasta.
Fun extra sections in Greekish
One of the joys of this cookbook is its extra sections. Things on a Stick features an extensive selection of kebabs perfect for the barbecue. The SAS: Spanakopita Appreciation Society chapter is filled with creative variations on the classic Greek spinach and feta pie. There’s also a whole section dedicated to Baklava, including recipes like Baklava cinnamon buns and Baklava semifreddo. Delicious!
Who will enjoy Greekish?
If, like me, you love Greek food and enjoy a creative twist, you’ll get a lot of pleasure out of this book. For some recipes, you may need to visit a good butcher or substitute the occasional hard-to-find ingredient. That said, about 90% of the recipes are very accessible. Above all, Greekish is a joy to cook from!
More cookbooks by Georgina Hayden
Georgina Hayden is of Greek-Cypriot heritage and has written several fantastic cookbooks. She worked with Jamie Oliver’s team for 12 years. Her debut cookbook, Stirring Slowly, is a collection of comforting recipes. She then turned towards her roots with Taverna, which explores traditional Cypriot dishes with a modern twist. This was followed by the remarkable Nistisima, featuring traditional vegan recipes for Lent (the fasting period in countries such as Greece and Lebanon). And she has a new cookbook out this year: Medesque – I still have to try that one.
More information
- Georgina Hayden on Instagram
- Lots of her recipes on the Guardian website
- You’ll find some recipes on her website
